Longer trip to suit Sauntering
He is certainly an interesting horse, who might well prove a blot at these weights.
Sauntering ran four times as a juvenile, twice over five furlongs and twice at six.
His mark of 64 is, obviously, based on those efforts.
He was then given a dramatic rise in trip for his initial outing as a three-year-old.
Running over a mile and a quarter, the selection came from well off the pace to finish four lengths third behind well-backed market leader, and stable companion, Maigue Princess, at Gowran Park eighteen days ago.
Sauntering was doing all his best work at the end and the fact he goes up in distance again, this time to a mile and a half, looks significant!
Paddy Mullins’ Emperors Guest is a hopeful choice to land the Slievenamon Maiden.
To support him, however, you need to ignore his two most recent efforts, behind Crimson Flower on the flat at this track and in the handicap hurdle won by High Prospect at Fairyhouse. What sways one towards him is his half a length second to Revue at Thurles in April.
The five-year-old handled the fast ground really well that day and had, arguably, his principal rival now, Ciara’s Delight, two and a half lengths behind in third spot.
Paul Nolan’s Accordion Etoile gets the nod to make a successful debut over jumps in the Glanbia Maiden Hurdle.
You would have reservations as to what he might find off the bridle, but Accordion Etoile won a bumper on this track in smooth style last month and this is a weak looking contest.
